5 Day Green Season
Last Updated: Feb 21, 2012
Monteverde & Arenal
Day 1: Arrival
Fly into San Jose’s Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO). Explore downtown San Jose and spend the evening relaxing at your hotel.
Day 2: Sightseeing & Night Hiking
An air-conditioned shuttle will ferry you to Monteverde, arriving just in time for a leisurely lunch. In the afternoon, relax and explore the towns of Santa Elena and Monteverde – green mountain views wait around every corner, and there are plenty of small nature museums to pop into, including a serpentarium and frog pond. In the evening, enjoy Monteverde’s famed brick-oven pizza before an exciting night tour at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Investigate the cloud forest floor and canopied treetops for flashes of red, a telltale sign of blinking animal eyes.
Day 3: Quetzal Spotting & A Canopy Tour
There are several private reserves in the Monteverde area, all located at different elevations. Ask around town for the latest resplendent quetzal spottings – mating grounds vary by elevation and weather – and make a beeline for the recommended reserve. We recommend a guided tour for the best bird and wildlife watching, but independent hikers will have a great time exploring the trails. After your hike, prepare for one of Costa Rica’s best canopy tours. You’ll fly through the air at speeds up to 40 mph, take on 2,000-foot cables, and hurl yourself off a ledge on the popular Tarzan swing. In the evening, wind down with a spa treatment or relax in a hotel hot tub.
Day 4: A Lake Cruise, Horseback Riding & Hot Springs
Today, you’ll take the fastest and most scenic route to Arenal – begin the trip with a van ride to Lake Arenal, where you’ll enjoy a peaceful boat tour across the lake. On the other side, jump into the waiting 4WD taxi and finish the trip to La Fortuna. After lunch, take an afternoon tour to Arenal Volcano; visit a lava lookout point where on clear days you’ll see red lava rocks bounce down the mountainside. In the evening, enjoy dinner and a therapeutic soak at one of Arenal’s volcano-fed hot springs.
Day 5: Whitewater Rafting to San Jose
Wake up energized and enjoy your last morning in Arenal. By mid-morning, you’ll be on your way to the whitewater adventure of Class II-III Balsa River or Class III-IV Toro River. Feel the rush of pure adrenaline as you paddle through foaming, white water, but don’t forget to enjoy the scenery around you. The riverbanks are lined by dense trees and foliage, and many animals come to rest here – keep your eyes open for sloths, white-faced monkeys and green iguanas. After rafting, a private van will escort you to your San Jose hotel in time for a relaxing dinner.
Day 6: Departure
Fly home.
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